PHOTO PROVIDED Highland High School student Elvis Gadtaula with his school counselor, Heather Bragg, who recommended he aply to attend the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference.

(2 column photo)

Ulster BOCES Pre-University/New Visions Scientific Research student Angelica Owen from Saugerties High School earned the 2014 Award for an Outstanding Oral Presentation at the Environmental Summit at The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse on May 28.

She was among only three out of 26 individuals or groups to be recognized. Also presenting at the summit from the Ulster BOCES Scientific Research program were Leo Amell and Ester Harrington, both of Kingston High School; and Alysia Myers of Saugerties High School.

Owen presented her findings on whether altering feeding practices in juvenile hatchery-raised fish increases their survival rate when they are reintroduced to the wild. She explained her findings to approximately 150 other high school students who brought their projects to the summit, as well as to high school and college faculty and graduate and undergraduate students.

Owen’s experiment supported her hypothesis that by altering feeding practices throughout the White Mouth Tilapias’ juvenile development stage, the

Advertisement

Fishes’ cognitive skills will increase, resulting in decreases in the gap between hatchery-raised fish and wild fish. According to Owen, these changes are important to the environment as a whole. “Once you dump these fish in the waterways, everything is affected.”

Amell, Harrington and Myers also participated in the conference’s poster presentation. Harrington’s poster highlighted the importance of nutritional eating for children. Amell created a poster that focused on indicators for the American Eel population decline, while Myers’ poster concentrated on a comparison of past and modern extinction rates.

• • •

(pic) Collin Schoonmaker of Kingston, a recent Kingston High School graduate, was awarded the Donald L. Schoonmaker Scholarship.

The fund is a national organization established in memory of Donald L. Schoonmaker, a lifelong Accord resident. The fund offers yearly scholarships to students who demonstrate community service, respect for others, integrity, honesty, appropriate manners and a demonstrative interest in horticulture and/or the sciences. Applications are available at high school guidance offices or from Donald L. Schoonmaker Scholarship Fund President Beverly Alfeld at jamlady10@aol.com.

Collin Schoonmaker, the great-nephew of Donald L. Schoonmaker, will enter his freshman year at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge this fall. He is a member of the Honor Society, and is also a member of the Onteora Runners Club and the Mid-Hudson Valley Gem & Mineral Society, with whom he volunteers to assist at its Gem and Mineral Show every year.

• • •

(2 pics) Iulia Ionescu of Highland and Marla Ogden of Tillson graduated from the Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie on June 13.

Ionescu had been at Oakwood Friends since ninth grade, and Ogden since 10th grade. They were among a graduating class of 31.

Oakwood Friends School, founded in 1796, is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school serving grades 6 through 12.

• • •

Scott Oatkin, a recent graduate of Bulkeley Middle School in Rhinebeck, was accepted into the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth summer program.

He was invited last fall to take a test to get into the program. As part of the center’s search for talented youth, advanced young learners take above-grade level tests that the center has used for years to spot academic talent and reveal gaps between a child’s academic program and his or her actual capacity for learning. Seventh- and eighth-graders take the SAT or ACT — the same tests used for college admissions. These students, along with second- through sixth-graders, can take the School and College Ability Test, an above-level test.

Based upon test scores, essays and an interview, Oatkin received an acceptance letter to the university program for three weeks this summer. He received a full scholarship of $4,500 to cover the cost of the program, books, lab and travel.

Students accepted into the summer program are placed in various universities. Oatkin is attending Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., from June 29 to July 18. He chose to study the physics of sports. He plans to pursue a career as a physicist. Students in the summer program receive college credit.

• • •

Three youngsters representing Columbia and Greene Counties 4-H participated in the 2014 New York State 4-H Public Presentation Event on May 17 at Cornell University in Ithaca.

The local participants were Margaret Carlson of the Flora and Fauna 4-H Club, Raphaela Seward-Meyer of the Wilderness Workers 4-H Club and Alex Peters of the 4 Seasons Servers 4-H Club.

4-H Public Presentations is a nationally recognized element of the Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program. Through a progressive series of communication activities, youngsters develop poise, gain self-confidence, learn to respond to questions, and gain subject matter knowledge.

The road to the state event began early in the year. Thhey selected a presentation topic and began to practice their presentation in preparation for the county-wide event in March. A total of 99 4-H youngsters from Columbia and Greene counties presented at the local events this year. Ten of them advanced to the District level.

The Capital District Presentation event took place on April 26 and had a turnout of 38 youngsters from nine counties. Of that group, only eight were selected by the evaluators to present at the state event.

• • •

Roan Gideon, a senior at Rhinebeck High School, was awarded the US Lacrosse Mid-Hudson Region High School All-Academic Award in recognition of his lacrosse skills, good sportsmanship on the field and academic achievement.

Roan was presented the award by US Lacrosse Mid-Hudson Region Chairman Bob Slate at a sectional playoff game in Middeltown.

• • •

Sean Martin, a junior at Rhinebeck High School, was selected by the National Rifle Association to attend its 2014 Youth Education Summit in Washington, D.C., this month.

The summit is open to interested high school sophomores or juniors who maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The selcetion process also involves the completion of an extensive application process comprised of essays about the Second Amendment, personal statements, transcripts and three personal recommendations.

Participants will tour memorials and monuments surrounding the nation’s capital as they learn the significance of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the importance of being an active citizen.

Each year, $15,000 in college scholarships is awarded by the summit to students who excel in the week’s activities, which provide the chance to develop leadership skills, public speaking and debating skills.

• • •

(2-column photo) Highland High School student Elvis Gadtaula was selected to represent the school at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership conference in Troy from May 30 through June 1.

A sophomore, Gadtaula was chosen to attend the conference based on his application that included an essay and a description of his community service. Hugh O’Brian Youth New York East is a leadership program that brings together students from around the region. The message is to help inspire students to become the catalysts for positive change in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities.

Gadtaula said that, throughout the weekend, counselors guided the students through a series of workshops that pushed them to think beyond themselves. When asked what he plans to do with his new leadership skills, Gadtaula said he has something in mind, but didn’t want to say what it is without having explored all the logistics.

Students who have successfully completed the state conference can apply to attend the organization’s World Leadership Congress, which willtake place in Chicago in July.

The Hugh O’Brian Youth program was established in 1958 by actor Hugh O’Brian following an inspirational visit to Africa. Its s goal is to teach newly chosen ambassadors how to think rather than what to think.

• • •

The following scholarships were awarded to members of the Rondout Valley High School Class of 2014 during a ceremony at the school:

Gladys M. Gray “One Minute Without Pain” Scholarships for Rondout Valley High School graduates who are now entering their third semester of nursing at Ulster County Community College — Marielle Rosola (Class of 2002), Candy Vazquez (Class of 2011), Emily Wainwright (Class of 2012) and Dana Wright (Class of 1995).